Rare footage from yours truly at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social
talking about Winston Churchill, Fulton, the Anglo-American relationship, and the dangerous openness of the moment. Joined by the great @sophgaston.bsky.social and @robertsaunders.bsky.social:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrL4...
“If a major burden shift is likely, Britain & its neighbours can try to negotiate a Fulton-in-reverse, receiving back the baton, creating a less American not a post-American Europe"
From @patporter76.bsky.social’s lecture in @newstatesman1913.bsky.social:
www.newstatesman.com/world/americ...
Prof Patrick Porter speaking at QMUL on Thursday 5 March 2026, taken by Gary Schwartz.
Close-up of Prof Patrick Porter speaking at QMUL on Thursday 5 March, taken by Gary Schwartz.
Sophia Gaston speaking at QMUL on Thursday 5 March, taken by Gary Schwartz.
Prof Patrick Porter, Sophia Gaston and Dr Robert Saunders at QMUL, taken by Gary Schwartz.
A magnificent lecture by @patporter76.bsky.social on Thursday, marking 80th anniversary of Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech.
We then had a fascinating response by @sophgaston.bsky.social on the challenges of the UK-US relationship today.
Thank you to everyone who joined us @qmulsse.bsky.social!
We then had a fascinating response by @sophgaston.bsky.social on the challenges of the UK-US relationship today, followed by some excellent questions from the floor.
If you're not on our mailing list, do sign up. We'd love to see you at our events - all of which are free.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/
Magnificent lecture by @patporter76.bsky.social at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social last night, on the 80th anniversary of Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech.
It would have warmed Churchill's heart to see a speaker holding an audience rapt without notes or slides - just sheer rhetorical power!
Very handsome of you. I was lucky to have a compelling lineup of yourself and @sophgaston.bsky.social!
Strutting the boards at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social , a terrific event with @sophgaston.bsky.social and @robertsaunders.bsky.social, and a great audience to boot.
Patrick will be exploring the 80th anniversary of the "Iron Curtain" speech at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social tonight, 18:30. Do join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...
"If a major burden shift is likely, Britain & its neighbours can try to negotiate a Fulton-in-reverse, receiving back the baton but in an orderly, stable & gradual way, creating a less American not a post-American Europe"
Key reading from @patporter76.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2026/0...
"If a major burden shift is likely, Britain and its neighbours can try to negotiate a Fulton-in-reverse, receiving back the baton, but in an orderly, stable and gradual way, creating a less American, not a post-American Europe."
Eighty years ago, Winston Churchill at Fulton urged the US to take up the baton of primacy in Europe. He feared American abandonment, avoided the word "alliance", & warned of a baffling, anxious time. The moment was dangerously open. Me in The New Statesman:
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2026/0...
Super! I will bring my pen.
See you there. Will bring my copy of Military Orientalism for you to sign at last 😊
Donald Trump barks that Keir Starmer is "no Winston Churchill." Likewise, Trump is no Harry Truman. But they both - and we- can learn from Churchill's Fulton address, eighty years ago tomorrow. Come to Mile End to join yours truly and @sophgaston.bsky.social as we look back to Fulton:
From Campbell Craig's rich, generous review of my book:
"In war much is uncertain, unknown and volatile, a simple point that is still easily neglected. We argue about this in the dark".
Excellent piece by @patporter76.bsky.social, making the realist case against war in Iran.
thecritic.co.uk/the-case-aga...
My piece in @TheCriticMag offering a prudential case against Operation Epic Fury. As ever, in wars there are many unknowns. We argue in the dark. That is also why the threshold for military action should be high, especially action to topple states.
thecritic.co.uk/the-case-aga...
Next Thursday, we will welcome @patporter76.bsky.social and @sophgaston.bsky.social to @qmulsse.bsky.social to mark 80 years since Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech.
All of our events are free-to-attend and tickets are still available so do join us if you can!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...
This Thursday! The great @patporter76.bsky.social & @sophgaston.bsky.social will mark 80 years since Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech, with its call for a "special relationship", & ask how we might rethink that relationship now.
5 March 6:30: free tickets here!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...
My piece in this month's print @TheCriticMag, Trump the Imprudent King. Those who hoped this president would champion a return to disciplined, effective Realpolitik will worry about the show so far.
"An iron curtain has descended across the Continent..."
On 5 March we'll mark 80 years of Churchill's "Sinews of Peace" speech at Fulton Missouri.
Join @patporter76.bsky.social & @sophgaston.bsky.social at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to explore its history & the lessons for today. Book here!
Contrary to former PM Boris Johnson's euphemistic view, the UK should not deploy forces to Ukraine if it lacks resolve to fight a major war there, just assuming HM forces will deter Russian attacks. There were reasons Johnson didn't try this bluff as PM.
thecritic.co.uk/issues/may-2...
When Winston Churchill spoke at Fulton, 80 years ago next month, his nightmares were ours: U.S. abandonment, the nuclear shadow, European exhaustion, poverty & war. Join myself & @sophgaston.bsky.social at @MileEndInst to look back, & ahead.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...
"An iron curtain has descended across the Continent".
On 5 March we'll mark 80 years of Churchill's "Sinews of Peace" speech at Fulton Missouri.
Join the brilliant @patporter76.bsky.social & @sophgaston.bsky.social to explore its history & the lessons for today
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...
To mark the 80th anniversary of Winston Churchill's "Sinews of Peace" speech at Fulton Missouri, I'll be giving a talk at @MileEndInst on Thursday 5th March at 5pm, followed by a response from the great @sophgaston. Come along!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...
Excellent article in the Critic by @patporter76.bsky.social. I made a similar argument at an RSIS conference in Singapore last week - the underlying logic seems to be "spheres for me, but not for thee". If so, suggests more continuity than change in US foreign policy. thecritic.co.uk/the-fear-of-...
Really interesting and eye opening.
Thanks to @novaramedia.com and @michaeljswalker for interviewing yours truly about European Defence in the wake of the Greenland crisis. Based on the article @blagden_david and I wrote in @newstatesman.bsky.social
youtu.be/8JIv6aMe9zs?...
Nordic Noir: allies cannot finesse or charm Donald Trum into accepting the status quo he despises, Europe's chief protector picking up the tab. To buy time, a negotiated burden shift is worth trying. @blagden_david and I in @NewStatesman
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
"In the face of Trump’s storm, if Britain and its European allies cannot now bend, they will break".
Good piece by @patporter76.bsky.social and @blagdendavid.bsky.social on the choices for Britain and Europe in the face of Trump's "imperial rampage".
www.newstatesman.com/internationa...
